TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, July 25 (PIA) –The National Nutrition Council (NNC) here encouraged the public to practice healthy eating habits to avoid excess weight gain and reduce risk for health problems.

As this year’s lead in the celebration of Nutrition Month with the theme “Healthy Diet, Gawing Habit-for Life”, Maria Gisela Lonzaga, nutrition program coordinator, urged the public to start the consumption of healthier foods and discouraged them from eating unhealthy diets.

Lonzaga said the yearly celebration is relevant and important to the cause of good nutrition for all Filipinos as it aims to promote healthy diets to contribute to the reduction of overweight, obesity and non-communicable diseases usually caused by eating unhealthy foods.

“We want to educate the public on how to better discern between healthy and unhealthy foods for better food choices,” Lonzaga said.

She added that part of the NNC’s advocacy is to encourage food industry including farmers, producers and distributors and food establishments to produce and make available healthier food options to consumers.

Nutrition Month is celebrated every July by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 491 signed on June 25, 1974, by then President Ferdinand Marcos, the same Presidential Decree that created the National Nutrition Council.

In support of this developmental endeavor, the Department of Education (DepEd) enjoins all schools to participate in the annual celebration by undertaking meaningful activities which will highlight the importance of good nutrition, healthy diet and healthy lifestyle.